A Spain strike on November 11 could make it one of the hardest days to fly in Europe this fall. Spain's two biggest union federations, UGT and CCOO, have called a 24-hour general strike for Wednesday, Nov. 11, over the country's housing crisis. It's their first joint general strike since 2012, and any worker in Spain can join, including airport staff, airline crews and air traffic controllers. The government will set minimum services that keep some flights running, but going by past strikes, short flights within mainland Spain are the most likely to be cut.
Latest Updates
Thursday, Oct. 29: The government hasn't published minimum services for flights yet. The unions asked the transport ministry last week to negotiate them rather than have them imposed, using the levels from the 2010 and 2012 general strikes as their starting point. As of Oct. 27, neither Spain's airport operator, Aena, nor the airlines had announced cancellations or free changes, according to the Spanish passenger-claims firm Reclamea. We'll update this page as airlines and the government announce plans.
What Happened Last Time
Spain's last general strikes give a good idea of what to expect. In 2010 and 2012, the government required airlines to run only 10% of flights between cities on the mainland, 50% of flights to the Balearic and Canary Islands, 20% of flights to the rest of the EU and 40% of other international flights. In the March 2012 strike, more than 700 flights were reportedly canceled. In 2010, Iberia planned to run only about a third of its schedule, and Ryanair canceled all of its domestic Spanish flights and most of its international ones.
The pattern makes sense once you see the logic. Routes like Madrid to Barcelona have trains and roads as alternatives, so they get the least protection. Flights to the islands get more, since flying is often the only practical way to get there, and flights beyond the EU are protected more than short hops to the rest of Europe.
Getting to the Airport Could Be Harder Than the Flight
A general strike doesn't stop at the airport. Renfe trains, including the high-speed AVE, city metros and buses are all expected to run reduced service, and big marches in Madrid and Barcelona could block roads and make taxis hard to find. If your flight is still running, the trip to the terminal may be the bigger problem. That's especially true on the Madrid–Andalusia line, where trains are already suspended after this month's crash.
If You're Flying to, From or Within Spain on November 11
Spain’s own airlines, Iberia, Air Europa and Vueling, run the most flights within the country, so their passengers are the most exposed. Start by checking whether your flight is on a route that past strikes hit hardest. A domestic flight on the mainland is at much higher risk than a flight from New York to Madrid, and island flights sit somewhere in between. Once the government publishes minimum services, likely in the week before the strike, airlines will start canceling flights and contacting passengers.
If your flight is canceled, EU rules say you're owed a refund or a new flight, plus meals and a hotel if you're stuck overnight. Extra cash compensation of €250 to €600 is a different story. Airlines usually treat a general strike as outside their control, so don't count on it, though no top EU court ruling has settled that question for general strikes specifically. If you can move your trip by a day without paying a fee, it's worth doing, and if you're booking now, a flight on Nov. 10 or 12 avoids the problem entirely.
Spain isn't the only country with strikes coming up, either. Italy has a strike on Friday, and France has a national strike planned for Nov. 5.
